Antenna and support therefor for use in wireless telegraph or telephone systems.



- F. H MILLENER. M AND SUPPORT THEREFOR FOR USE IN WIRELESS TELEGRAPH 0RTELEPHON E SYSTEMS,

APPLICATION FILED IAN-19,19I2.

Patented m. 28, 1916 IN VEN TOR 3 SHEETSS HEET I.

F. H. lVIlLLENER. ANTENNA AND SUPPORT THEREFOR FOR uSE IN WIRELESSTELEGRAPH 0R TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED .IAN. I9, 1912.

Patented Nov. 28,1916

3 SHEETS-$HEET 2.

//V VE N TOR 'WZTNESSES F. H. MILLENER. ANTEIJNA AND SUPPORT THEREFORFOR USE IN WIRELESS TELEGRAPH 0R TELfEPHONE SYSTEMS APPLICATION FILEDJAN. 19, 1912.

Patenta New 28, '19

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITE ANTENNA AND SUPPORT THEREFOR FOR USE IN WIRELESS TELEGRAPH 0RSTATES FATE T OF OMIAHA, NEBRASKA.

PHONE SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 19, 1912. Serial No. 672,168.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be itknown that I, FREDERICK Hovnn MILLENER, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing in Omaha, in the county of Douglas, State ofNebraska, have invented new and. useful Improvements in Antennae andSupports Therefor for Use in lVireless Telegraph or Telephone Systems,of which the following is a specification.

The invention hereinafter set, forth is designed for use with any systemof telegraphy or telephony involving etheric trans mission, andrequiring an antenna and a ground or so-called counterpoise, or withany. system that employs energy in the form of electric wavesetherically transmitted. It is more especially intended for use inconnection with railway systems, or for land use.

Considerable difiiculty has heretofore been experienced in thetransmission of energy, signals, sound or speech by electric orelectromagnetic waves, in providing a suitable antenna and proper groundfor the system. Especial diflicult-yhas been met with in providing anantenna of small area combined with proper capacity, and using a singlemast or tower of adequate height. The socalled umbrella antenna, whilepossessing certain desirable qualities, covers so great an area that itcan be used in open fields only. In stormy weather such antenna isliable to breakage or injury, and in cold weather it is apt to becomeclogged with ice, and broken or rendered wholly inoperative, orunsatisfactory in operation. The difliculties of repairing such antennaare also considerable. In the erection of wireless apparatus fortransmitting or receiving electric energy, in whzuevcr form, andespecially in locations where high winds and sleet storms occur, it isdesirable to guard against the injurious effects thereof.

Accordingly the invention herein de scribed has forits object aconstruction of antenna or aerials and ground connections embodying thedesirable features of the socalled umbrella antennze, yet capable of usein crowded freight yards and like places. The construction is such.also, that 1' am enabled to increase considerably the amount of energyradiated, to give proper direction thereto, and to eliminate to acertain extent, interference by waves transmitted through or by saidapparatus. with waves from other sources.

My invention-may be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of the supportmg tower,showing diagrammatically the antennae which it carries; Fig. a plan viewshowing the directional positions of the antennae; Fig. 3, a top planview of the device to which the upper ends of the antennm are attached;Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line a-fipf F 3; Fig. 5, a plan view ofone of the antenna units; Fig. 5, a diagrammatic perspective of theground connections; and Fig. apparatus for raising vice shown in Figs. 3carried thereby.

In these drawings the numeral i inch" a tower of any suitable form orcons and lowering the deand t, and the parts tion, here shown as a steeltower with suit tble transverse and diagonal bracing. Ex-

terding above the main body 1 of the'tower, but suitably joined theretoor supported therein, is a mast or post 2 of wood or other suitablematerial, which should be well protected from the eflects of theweather, rain, snow, or moisture, by a coating of parafiin, waterproofvarnish, or other material or preparation. Encircling the mast or post 2is a device or structure 3, designed to serve at 'once as a support andan insulator for the antenna units 4, (3 and 7, presently to bedescribed. This structure 3 comprises an inner hoop or band providedwith eyes 38, 39, i0. -l1, 42 and $3, to receive similarly formed upperends of links or hangers 26, 27. 28, 29, 30 the lower ends of whichengage with eyes 32. 33, 2-H, 35, .36 and 37 carried'by an annular band4%. Each of said links is pro vided at a suitable point in its lengthwith an insulator, as shown in Figs. 3 and .1. The eyes both of the band25 and of the band 4% are preferably swiveled as seen in Fig. to give afreedom and flexibility movement to the parts so that there may be nocramping or binding in use.

(oncentric with the bands 25 and ti: third hoop or band 45. which may bein one continuous piece, but which is preferabl constructed in sectionsas shown in F 7 a detail view of the insulating and 31,

Patented New. 238, 7

. eves for interconnection,

" 45 by blocks 46, 47 48,

serve the double purpose of each section having outwardly turned ends orears perforated to receive bolts which drawing .together the sections ofthe band 45 and of holding between the ears of said band the perforateupper ends of strain insulators 58, 59, 60' and 61 of petticoat type,which are introduced between the device 3 and the antenna units 4, 5,6and 7 to maintain a dry strip or section of insulated antenna-supporterbetween the antenna and mast in stormy weather, or when the air isheavily charged with moisture. For more effective insulation, additionalstrain insulators 54, 55, 56 and 57 may be connected with the lower orouter extremities of the strain insulators 58, 59, 60 and 61, thesestrain insulators each being provided at their ends with V and forconnection with the device 3 and with tension or straining-ropes, whichthe tension or straining-ropes pass, to enable the ropes andtheconnected parts to be put under proper stress or tension and kepttaut. Physical connection'is made between the coneentric hoops or bands44. and

49, and 51 of suitable insulating material. These blocks are ofsegmental form,-and have ii -their outer and inner faces, respectively,grooves or ..channels 52 and 53, as indicated in Figs. 3

the said bands 45 and 44, which fit snugly within said grooves orrecesses in said blocks. These insulating blocks are equidistantlyspaced apart,,and

and 4, to receive arranged concentrically with the several hoops orbands.

It will be seen that under this construction, a tightening of the-bolts45 will cause the band 45 as a whole to be contracted, and

' not only to seat-the sections of said band about the post 2, and maysnugly within the grooved outer faces of the insulating blocks, but alsoto press said blocks inward against or upon the inner hoop or band 44,causing the blocks to bear firmly and snugly thereon, holding saidblocksrin position, and preventing -distortion or buckling of the innerhoop or band 44, which is, of course, subject'to the compressive stressincident to contraction of band 45. The blocks 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51provide effective insulation between the hoops or bands 44 and 45.

The innermost hoop enough to slide freely up and down upon or be raisedor lowcred thereon by any convenient means. Fig. 7 pulleys 100 and ropesthe ropes passing pulleys, and thence point from which to manipulatethem when necessary. They may extend to the foot of the tower, or to theplatform at the top thereof, as desired, and are normally made The riseand or with pulley-blocks through.

wire, or the parts with or band 25 is large 1 101' are shown, from thering 25 over the downward to a suitable.

fall of the device 3 is, of course, merely through the height of thepost 2.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated an antenna unit.

pipe,,and which are provided with eyes'or eye-bolts as 72,73, 74, 75,76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 83, the eye-bolts or eyes 72, 73, 74, 75,76, 77, 78, 79, 80 and 81 carrying each a loose or swiveledeye-member'104. The eyes or eye-bolts 80, 81, 82 and 83 have eyes onboth sides .of the stretchers 102 and 103. Beginning at one corner ofthe rectangle of which the stretchers 102 and 103 form the ends, as forinstance at 82 in Fig. 5, a wire 105 is made fast to the eye at thatpoint,"and is carried thence .to the loose eye 104 at the opposite endof the rectangle, being threaded bolt 83 is reached, when the end of thewire 105 is made fast thereto, In this way the continuous wire 105,which may be of copper, stranded or plain, but'which is preferably madeof'phosphor bronze because of its greater strength coupled with goodconducting capacity, is caused to eonnectithe two s't-retchers, andwtomake up a flexible rectangular structure consisting of the stretchersand'the series of parallel stretches of wire. Being threaded orrunloosely through the loose eyes, the wire 105 is free to play, and thewhole structure may weave and play to such an extent as will break looseice or sleet forming on or adhering to said which it is connected. Crossconnections may be made between the stretches of the wire 105 by meansof suitable wires or conductors 86, 87 and 88, soldered or otherwiseconnected to said wire 105. The metal, stretcher-s 102 and strength andstiffness, and also contributeto the'cap'aity of the antennac, as do thecross connections86, 87 and 88.

Extending from the eyes 82 and 83 to a common ring or clevis: connectedwith a tension or straining-rope 71, are draft devices comprising stra ninsulators 66 and 67 of the petticoattype, and other strain insulators.64 and'65 of the spool type, ar-

ranged in alinement and interconnected, as

indicated in Fig. 5. 7 0 in said figure indicates a sheave or; pulleyblock through which the tensionbr straining-rope 71 is carried to thebase of the tower, or other convenientpoint. This sheave or block 70 isin practice attached to the eye at the lower or outer end of one oranother of the strain insulators 54, 55, 56 or 57 of thesustaining-device 3, there being one such 103 give adequate pulley blockfor each tension or strainingrope or cable. These ropes serve as meansof giving to each guy-rope or cable 100, of which there is one securedto the lower or opposite end of each antenna unit, the desired tension,and they also permit any unit to be lowered independently of the others,or quickly raised and lowered to break up or loosen and shake off any adhering ice, sleet or snow, and this without ascending the tower orleaving the ground.

At the opposite end of the antenna unit, and connected with the eyes 80and 81, are similar petticoat insulators (38 and 69 and spool insulators02 and 63, connected wlth each other through interlocking eyes, and witha clevis or coupling 90, which in turn connects with an insulator S ofthe petticoat form, the petticoatinsulators serving to protect the eyesor connections beneath them from moisture. Other insulators as 12 and13, with intermediate connections as 91, may be interposed between theantenna unit and the guy-rope 106, which as before mentioned, is carriedand secured to a suitable anchorage at the ground.

The angular relation of the several guyropes or cables 106 is such as togive a bracing or staying efi'ect to the tower and" mast, but is notnecessarily so great as to necessitate any wide area between the ancliorages of either pair of guy-ropes or cables. The arrangement of thefour guy-ropes or cables, and consequently of the four antenna. units inapproximately one general plane, as illustrated in Fig. 2, tends to givedirection to the electric waves procee mg from the antennm Each antennaunit is provided with a conducting wire 20, 21, or 23, of Fig. l, whichas shown in F g. 5, is divided into two branches, electrically connectedto the cross connecting wires 87 and .38, preferably at tlie nidlengthof each. These wires 20., 21, 22 and 23 are carried to the capacity orcounterpoise, as indicated in Fig. 1 and in greater detail in Fig.6.Such connection may be made from each antenna unit directly and by itsown wire, to the capacity or counterpoise, or from each unit to the nextin series, and by a single wire thence to the capacity or ground. I

InFig. 6 there is illustrated a means of securing suitable groundconnection for the antennae, this being particularly designed for use inconnection with railway systems Where'the rail-s are available ascapacity or counterpoise. In dry climates it is often difficult tosecure a good ground connection, and in such sections it is common touse coils of Wire as a counterpoise, or iron wire is staked to theground. In freight yards, and in many other places, this would obviouslybe inconvenient or impracticable,

but the track rails afford a convenient and sa -siactory substitute,capable of belng inthe bolts, are not in fact in good electricalconnection, and hence where the rails are used as a means of electricaltransmission,

as for instance in connection with block signal systems, it is foundnecessary to bond the rails by means of wires, usually of copper, and soelectrically connected with the rails as to be unaffected by theoxidation of the outer surfaces of said rails, fish-plates, bolts, etc,It is hence found practicable to make direct electrical connection ofeach of the wires or conductors 20, '21, 22 and 23 with one ormore raillengths 98 and 99, or with one or more groups of rails suitably bonded,without adding to the capacity or counterpoise other rails mechanicallyconnected therewith but not similarly bonded or in like electricalconnection therewith. I therefore avail of these facts to vary theextent of the capacity or counterpoise by carrying separate conductorsas 91, 95, and 97' to separate rails, and making good electric bond orconnection therewith, as illustrated in Fig. 0, the other ends of saidconductors being carried to contact-stud 107,

with any one or more of which contact may be made by an arc-shapedcontact-member 93, free to swing about a supporting stud or post, andadapted, as indicated, to rest simultaneously upon all of the contactstuds 107, or upon any lesser number thereof.

Electrical connection is made from the supporting or pivot post of thecontact-member 93 to the wire or conductor 20, 21, 22 or 23 of therespective antenna units, preferably through an inductance 92.

It will be readily understood upon reference to F ig. 6 that as thecontact-member 93 is made to bear upon more or fewer of the studs 107,-greater or less capacity or counterpoise will be brought into use, andin this way the apparatus may be adjusted or adapted to varyingatmospheric or meteorological conditions. The capacity regulator orcontroller is, as indicated in Fig, 0, thus introduced between theantenna units and the counterpoise or capacity, and may conveniently belocated in an operators house 2%,at the base of the tower, or in otherconvenient position. where sending and receiving instrui'nents will alsobe placed.

t after wiirst installation is hence peculiarly adapted and adjustment,pt

ascending the tower, the tension or strain- ,ing-ropes 71afi'fordingmeans whereby each antenna unit. may be stressed to anyrequired degree, or loosened to swing and play the wind, or :be raisedand lowered by manipulation of the tension or straining. ropes so as tobreak up and shake ofi, ice or sleet, or to remove snow orfaccuniulatedmoisture. It will also be seen that by raising or lowering thesupporting-device 3, the several units may be simultaneously stressed orslackened, ,for the purpose of clearing them, or to vary. the tension ofall alike. The flexible or jointedconnections alsopermitconsiderabledefiection. of the guy-ropes in one or another direction, toclear tracks, buildings or other objects in, or about a railway yard, orlike place. The structure for use in connection with railway service,for which, as

before stated, itv isprimarily designed.

. made ofap .ing the also in vany desired for the reception as well Itis obvious that without departing from the spirit or scope of myinvention, details of the structure, such'as, the connections betweenthe antenna-support 3 and the -an-- tenna units, or between said unitsand their anchorages, the devices for raising and lowering said support,and those for stressguy-ropes, may be varied. Any formot tower, mast orupright may be em ployed, likewise. The guys 106 are intended primarilytomaintain the antenna-sections -1I1 proper position and under suitabletenbe madeto contribute degree toward staying or-steadymg the tower,mast or upright, the elements of the antenna units being ropriatestrength; to enable them to perform this function.

It is of course understood that the aerials or antennae here describedare to be used as for the transmission or sending of waves.

It should be observed in this connection that in order to be availableas capacity for the wireless or etheric transmission a'pparatus,therailway rails should have the sion, but they may a same generaldirection as the antenna units, .and that said units should have thegeneral direction of a straight line connecting the two stations betweenwhich tranmission is primarily to be made. It is not essential that theybe in perfect alinement or absolutely parallehbut the nearer theapproximation to alinement or parallelism, the greater is the efliciencyof transmission. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is Y'1. An aerial for etheric transmission systems, comprising in'combinat'ion a suitable upright a plurality of antenna units, eachcomprising a pair'of stretcher-s and a plurality of stretches of wireextending from one stretcher to the other in common plane;

insulated tenna units;

-as described.

' transmission systems,

one from the other, and

- finally connected at comprising an upper hoop or per end of each unitwith,. but electrically insulating it from, the upright; guysmechanically connected with but electrically from the, lowerzends of theanand suitable anchorages to which said guys are secured, substantially2.111 an aerial for wireless 'or etheric an antenna unit comtwostretchers suitably separated each provided with eyes; and a wire orconductor connected at one end to one of said stretchers, and extendingthence back and forth from one stretcher toward the other and passingfreely through eyes of said stretche-rs, and its second end with one ofsaid stretchers; whereby thereis produced a unitary structure comprisinga series of-stretches of wirein common plane, suitably spaced apart andflexibly connected with the stretchers.

3. An antenna unit comprising two separated stretchers each providedwith eyes; a wire or electric conductor extending back and forth fromeach stretcher toward the other and laced or threaded through the eyesthereof alternately, and having ends secured to one mother of saidstretchers; cross conductors electrically connecting the prising severalstretches of wire; converging strain insulators for the upper end ofsaid unit. connected with the stretcher at said end near itsextremities; a straining rope connected with said insulators at thepoint of convergence; similar converging strain-insulators connected inlike manner ith the lower stretcher of the unit; and

a guy connected with the latter strain insulators at the point ofconvergence; whereby the wires of the antenna unit may be suitably andat proper distances one from another.

4. In combination with a suitable mast or upright, an antenna-support orcarver, comprising an inner hoop or band adapted to encircle the mastand to move freely thereon; a second hoop or band concentric with thefirst links or hangers flexibly connected at their upper ends with theinner hoop or band, and at their lower ends with the second hoop orband; a third hoop or band concentric with the second one, divided atone or more points. and there provided with ears; a series of insulatingblocks having their inner and outer faces grooved to receive the twolower hoops or bands; and means for contracting the outer hoop andthereby binding together the two'hoops and the interposed insulatingblocks, substantially as-described.

5. In combination with a suitable mast 0r upright, an antenna-supportingdevice band 25,

or tension stressed and held in common plane- 7 r adapted to' encirclethenrast and to more freely up and down thereon; hangers loosely jointedto said band; a lower hoop or band to which the lower ends of saidhangers are likewise loosely jointed; segmental insulating blocks as $6,having their inner and outer-faces circumferentially gIOOVQCl, andhaving the band 44: seated in their in ner grooves; a sectional band toencircling the insulating blocks, seated in the outer grooves thereof,and provided at the ends of'each section with ears; strain insulatorshaving their perforated ends introduced between proximate ears of thesectional band;

and bolts passing through said ears, and S'Qli'l lg both to contract thesectional band and to connect the strain insulators therewith. y

1 ii. in combination with a suitable mast or upright. an antemia-supportbodily adiustable up and down thereon, and provided with sheaves orpulleys; a plurality of an tenna units, each provided with a strainingor tension rope, each of said ropes passing about one or another pulleyof the supporting de ic and thence to a convenient pointat or near theground, for manipulation; guys connected each to one or another of theantenna units and suitably anchored; and means for bodily raising andlowering testes stressed or slackened.

. electrically connected with the antenna, and

adapted tomake contact at will with any one or more of thecontact-studs, and thereby to place said antenna in electrical connection with any or all of the rail sections.

8. In an'etheric transmission apparatus, the combination of an antenna;a railwa trach; and means for connecting a length or section of saidtrack with the antenna as a counterpoise or capacity, the antenna andthe connected track section both extending in the general direction of alme connectlng the points between which transmission is to be eltected.v y

FREDERICK HOYER MILLENER.

. Witnesses:

Cnannns P. Ross, J. M.- PETERSEN oi? this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 8.

